Japanese Beetle Traps

Over the last couple of weeks I've noticed several bug traps placed around the Geneva Heights neighborhood. They look like an extra-wide lawn dart with yellow fins and a dark green shaft. Recently I discovered that these traps are collecting Japanese Beetles (Daily Herald article, Deseret News article). Each trap contains a pherimone sample for Japanese beetles which attracts the insect. The chemical mixture also sterilizes the beetle to prevent further outbreak. It sounds like more than 500 beetles have been collected over the last couple of weeks using these traps. The outbreak seems to be localized in Orem around Orem Community hospital. The State of Utah has already placed plants imported from several other states on quarantine to prevent an outbreak in Utah.

For more information on this hungry insect visit the Wikipedia entry on the Japanese beetle.

Update: Also came across an article in the Salt Lake Tribune: http://www.sltrib.com/ci_4223249.

Voting On Transportation Tax

Now it's official. Utah county will be voting on a quarter-cent transportation tax this November. "87 percent of the increased revenues [will go] to commuter rail, 8 percent to roads and 5 percent to other transit".

Orem Roundabout

Believe it or not someone has taken the time to create a website about roundabouts and Orem is on the list.

There is a roundabout on the north side of 800 North street (arround 450 West) that may be worthy of inclusion. I'm not sure if that roundabout is owned by Pinecrest or the City of Orem.

I've taken a few photos to send to the above-mentioned site.

This roundabout has a few traffic problems. Often the patrons of the nearby bank decided to cut the wrong way around the roundabout (they turn left on the roundabout to exit onto 800 North). Also, when traffic is busy, vehicles waiting to turn on to 800 North get backed up into the roundabout which means vehicles at other points of the circle are stopped as well. This roundabout might work better if it were placed another 150 feet to the North.

Sharon Community Educational and Recreational Association

Quoting from a short history written by Kenneth L. Cannon II.

SCERA was created in 1933 under the guidance of Arthur V. Watkins, then president of the LDS Sharon Stake and later a United States Senator from Utah, as a substantial community effort at "planned and organized recreation." SCERA has fulfilled much of its anticipated role in the city since its birth in the depths of the Great Depression.

Recently I took my wife on a date to the SCERA Summer Matinee to see a movie. We had an enjoyable experience. Although I have been to many SCERA plays and movies before, I was more conscious this time of how much work it must take to keep such an organization operational. I felt grateful to have such a wonderful resource available in our community. I was also impressed with those who were volunteering their time to support this organization and to improve themselves as individuals. It seemed to me to be a great family atmosphere from the polite young man who filled our popcorn (couldn't have been more than 10 years old) to the "cry-rooms" we noticed for parents with a fussy baby.

So my thanks goes out to those who organize, maintain and support in so many ways this valuable piece of our community.

http://www.scera.org/

Orem Public Library Selected for Book

Berkshire Publishing Group will be publishing a book titled "Heart of the Community: The Libraries We Love". Orem Public Library has been selected as one of eighty-four libraries to be honored in the book.